Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Notorious former Bonanno crime boss Joseph Massino – the first head of one of NY’s five families ever to turn government witness -- will be released from jail as a reward for his cooperation with authorities, a judge ruled in Brooklyn federal court today.

The sickly former don, who was facing life in prison for eight gangland slayings, will be placed into witness protection program as a governmental thank you for testimony that sank dozens of mafia honchos including his Bonanno successor, Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano.

Appearing bloated in a mob-standard track suit and wearing white velcro sneakers, Massino rose to address Judge Nicholas Garaufis and steadied himself on a table to address the court with a brief apology before his resentencing.

"I pray every night for the families of the people I hurt," he said in a low growl. "Especially the victims' families."

The portly hoodlum dished to the feds that Basciano was plotting to kill Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Andres and taped the mob big admitting to the murder of family associate Randolph Pizzolo.

Massino, now 70, has served more than 10 years in the clink since he was handcuffed at his garish Queens Mcmansion and eventually sentenced to life behind bars for the killings.

The turncoat testified in only two trials but provided investigators with an unprecedented trove of highly confidential information about the mafia.

His lawyers had argued that he deserves a few years of freedom for his actions.and referred to his cooperation as a turning point in the war against La Cosa Nostra.

The Bonanno heavyweight - the first mob boss to turn government witness - was forced after his arrest to forfeit $7 million in cash, properties, and 257 solid bars of gold that were discovered at a restaurant he owned.

Massino’s attorney, Edward McDonald, said he would be able to support himself through Social Security and income from some modest rental properties and that a reprise of his gangtser ways were unlikely.

McDonald added that he will continue to offer support to ongoing government investigations into the mafia “that have not been revealed yet.”